POPSUGAR Celebrity

10 Must-Dos For Every Intermediate Baker

Sep 26 2012 - 4:25am

You've mastered the chocolate-chip cookie and every cupcake recipe known to mankind (or womankind, that is). Now you've mustered up the courage to try more challenging recipes such as crepes and marshmallows. Here are 10 dessert recipes and techniques that every intermediate baker should attempt at least once.

Roll Out Pie Crust

Cast aside gummy, store-bought pie crusts, and roll out flaky, buttery pie crust [1] for all your seasonal treats with the help of these step-by-step pie-crust photos [2].

Experiment With Gluten-Free Baking

Wheat isn't the only flour out there. While gluten-free baking can result in sandy, crumbly baked goods in the wrong hands, this chocolate-matcha mochi bundt cake [3], made from sweet rice flour, is moist and dense like Japanese mochi.

Create Chewy Caramel Candies

It may require a candy thermometer and a watchful eye, but these caramel candies [4] are otherwise relatively simple to prepare and will become a staple in your candy bowl.

Make French Bread

A slightly fermented French bread like pain d'epi [5] requires a bit more skill than your standard baguette due to its wheat-stalk shape.

Ice a Layered Cake

Flambé Bananas Foster

It can be frightening to flambé, particularly in front of a crowd, but bananas foster [7] is a classic (and quite simple) dessert that can help you master that skill.

Pipe Out Minimarshmallows

Making minimarshmallows [8] at home may seem out of reach, but truth be told, the greatest challenge lies in waiting for them to set up before devouring.

Make Crepes

No need to buy special equipment to make crepes [9], because any nonstick pan will do. The trick is getting the pan temperature right so that the crepes are smooth and develop a lacy crust.

Whip a Fluffy Chocolate Soufflé

Chocolate soufflé [10] is a classic dessert whose difficulty is often overhyped. As long as you take the time to carefully fold the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter and follow other outlined steps, this dessert is sure to impress.

Perfect a French Macaron

Try your hand at making a batch of delicate French macarons [11], the fashionable bite-size pastry. The technique can seem daunting, but with a few tricks and tips [12], you'll be well on your way to baking the perfect macarons.